Vehicle traffic flow data acquisition and distribution

• US 8,253,591 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Contiguity LLC (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: SRR Patent Holdings LLC (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Leigh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US13/220,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20110309951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/936, 340/937, 340/995.1, 701/301, 701/1, 701/23, 701/200
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 9/00 Traffic control systems for craft where the kind of craft is irrelevant or unspecified

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for vehicle traffic flow data acquisition and reporting for onboard vehicle navigation. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for vehicle traffic flow data acquisition and reporting for onboard vehicle navigation can include acquiring imagery of multiple vehicles traveling on a roadway between two locations and individually identifying the different vehicles in the imagery. An elapsed time of travel can be determined for the individually identified vehicles between the two locations and a rate of travel can be computed for each of the individually identified different vehicles based upon the elapsed time of travel. Thereafter, the rate of travel for at least one of the individually identified different vehicles can be broadcast to a subscriber for at least one of the two locations.

Claims

1. A data acquisition and distribution hardware system for distributing information about a measured route of travel, comprising:

an image detection hardware system configured to;

receive, from a first camera positioned at a beginning of the measured route of travel, imagery of a plurality of vehicles at a first location,

receive, from a second camera positioned at an end of the measured route of travel, imagery of a plurality of vehicles at a second location,

individually identify different vehicles in both the first and second imagery,

calculate a rate of travel for each of the individually identified vehicles based upon the first imagery and the second imagery; and

a broadcasting system configured to;

broadcast information about the measured route of travel to an onboard vehicle navigation system of a subscriber.

2. The hardware system of claim 1, wherein

the image detection hardware system is further configured to:

calculate an elapsed time of travel along the measured route of travel for each of the individually identified vehicles, and

calculate an average rate of travel along the measured route of travel over a predetermined period of time.

3. The hardware system of claim 1, wherein

the information identifies the route of travel and an average rate of travel along the measured route of travel.

4. The hardware system of claim 3, wherein

the average rate of travel is broadcast only when the average rate of travel falls below a threshold value.

5. The hardware system of claim 3, wherein

the average rate of travel is broadcast to the subscriber only when a subscriber-planned route of travel in the onboard navigation system includes the measured route of travel.

6. The hardware system of claim 3, wherein

the average rate of travel is displayed on the onboard vehicle navigation system of the subscriber.

7. The hardware system of claim 1, wherein

the information includes at least one of the first and second locations.

8. The hardware system of claim 1, wherein

the information includes a weather report for the predetermined route of travel.

9. The hardware system of claim 1, wherein

the broadcasting system uses one of text messaging and e-mail to broadcast the information to the onboard vehicle navigation system.

10. The hardware system of claim 1, wherein

the predetermined route of travel is along a roadway.

11. The hardware system of claim 1, wherein

the predetermined route of travel is along a waterway.

12. A method for distributing information about a measured route of travel using a data acquisition and distribution hardware system, comprising:

receive, from a first camera positioned at a beginning of the measured route of travel, imagery of a plurality of vehicles at a first location,

receiving, from a second camera positioned at an end of the measured route of travel, imagery of a plurality of vehicles at a second location,

individually identifying different vehicles in both the first and second imagery,

calculating a rate of travel for each of the individually identified vehicles based upon the first imagery and the second imagery; and

broadcasting information about the measured route of travel to an onboard vehicle navigation system of a subscriber.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising

calculating an elapsed time of travel along the measured route of travel for each of the individually identified vehicles, and

calculating an average rate of travel along the measured route of travel over a predetermined period of time.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein

the information identifies the route of travel and an average rate of travel along the measured route of travel.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein

the average rate of travel is broadcast only when the average rate of travel falls below a threshold value.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein

the average rate of travel is broadcast to the subscriber only when a subscriber-planned route of travel in the onboard navigation system includes the measured route of travel.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein

the average rate of travel is displayed on the onboard vehicle navigation system of the subscriber.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein

the information includes at least one of the first and second locations.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein

the information includes a weather report for the predetermined route of travel.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein

the information is broadcast to the onboard vehicle navigation system using one of text messaging and e-mail.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein

the predetermined route of travel is along a roadway.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein

the predetermined route of travel is along a waterway.